Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) survey: The colour evolution of galaxies in the distant Universe

The wavelength-coverage and sensitivity of JWST now enables us to probe the rest-frame UV - optical spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of galaxies at high-redshift ($z>4$). From these SEDs it is, in principle, through SED fitting possible to infer key physical properties, including stellar masses, star formation rates, and dust attenuation. These in turn can be compared with the predictions of galaxy formation simulations allowing us to validate and refine the incorporated physics. However, the inference of physical properties, particularly from photometry alone, can lead to large uncertainties and potential biases. Instead, it is now possible, and common, for simulations to be \emph{forward-modelled} to yield synthetic observations that can be compared directly to real observations. In this work, we measure the JWST broadband fluxes and colours of a robust sample of $5<z<10$ galaxies using the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) Survey. We then analyse predictions from a variety of models using the same methodology and compare the NIRCam/F277W magnitude distribution and NIRCam colours with observations. We find that the predicted and observed magnitude distributions are similar, at least at $58$ the distributions differ somewhat, though our observed sample size is small and thus susceptible to statistical fluctuations. Likewise, the predicted and observed colour evolution show broad agreement, at least at $5<z<8$. There is however some disagreement between the observed and modelled strength of the strong line contribution. In particular all the models fails to reproduce the F410M-F444W colour at $z>8$, though, again, the sample size is small here.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, submitted to MNRA

The systematic status of earless dragon lizards, Tympanocryptis (Reptilia: Agamidae), in south-eastern Australia

The systematic status of the dragon lizards Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla and T. tetraporophora (Agamidae) was examined by allozyme electrophoresis and multivariate morphological techniques. Both taxa exhibited considerable genetic and morphologica

Contribution of occupational therapists in positive behaviour support

Aim Positive behaviour support employs specific strategies which aim to both reduce the incidence of behaviours of concern and enhance the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities. This study aims to identify activities and experiences of occupational therapists working in behaviour support contexts to understand how they see their contributions in this area. Methods Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 10 occupational therapists who have provided behaviour support for people with intellectual disabilities. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results Three major themes emerged from the interview data: contextualising and understanding behaviour; occupational therapy why and how?; and challenges, strengths and expanding horizons. Conclusions Participants saw themselves as providing an occupational perspective in the delivery of behaviour support, to individuals with behaviour support needs. They highlighted that this was achieved utilising their skills and knowledge about positive behaviour support strategies. Their approaches were seen as drawing on: their understanding of neurological function and how it relates to a person's occupational engagement; combining occupationally focussed approaches with behavioural analysis methodology to guide practice; and advocating for person-centred interventions. These observations form the basis for exploring ways in which occupational therapists can advance their contributions in positive behaviour support settings

FT-2102, an IDH1m Inhibitor, in Combination with Azacitidine in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) or Myelodysplastic Ayndrome (MDS): Results from a Phase 1 Study

Abstract Background: Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutations (IDH1m) occur in 7-14% of AML patients and 3% of MDS patients. Mutated IDH1 metabolizes alpha-ketoglutarate into 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), an oncometabolite that impairs differentiation. FT-2102 is an oral, highly potent, selective small molecule inhibitor of mutated IDH1, with the therapeutic potential to restore normal cellular differentiation. Azacitidine (AZA), a hypomethylating agent (HMA), is a standard of care for MDS and for AML patients unfit for intensive therapy. We present Phase 1 clinical data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 study of FT-2102 in combination with azacitidine (FT-2102+AZA) in patients with IDH1m AML and MDS (CT.gov: NCT02719574). Methods: A Phase 1 study was initiated to evaluate the safety, PK/PD, and antileukemic activity of FT-2102 in patients with IDH1m AML or MDS and included both dose escalation and expansion. FT-2102 was administered daily (150 QD or 150 BID) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity; AZA was administered at 75 mg/m2 IV or SC daily for 7 days of each 28-day cycle. Eligible patients had IDH1m AML/MDS that was relapsed/refractory (R/R) or treatment-naïve (TN), were eligible for AZA therapy and had adequate liver and renal function. Prior IDH1 inhibitors and hypomethylating agents were allowed, and there were no restrictions for concomitant non-anticancer medications. Investigator-assessed responses were per modified IWG 2003/2006 criteria. Efficacy was assessed at Cycle 2 Day 1 and as clinically indicated thereafter. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed throughout the study per NCI CTCAE version 4.03. Results: At the time of the data cutoff, 07 April 2018, 27 patients had been enrolled and 26 had been treated with FT-2102+AZA, with a median of 3 months on treatment (range: 0.2 to 12 months). Of the 27 enrolled patients, 24 had AML (20 R/R; 4 TN) and 3 patients had MDS (all TN). The median number of prior antileukemia therapies was 3 (range: 0-5) in the AML patients. Doses of FT-2102 were 150 mg QD (n=7) and 150 mg BID (n=20). Thirteen (50%) patients discontinued treatment, with the most common reasons for treatment discontinuation were hematopoietic stem cell transplant (n=4), death (n=2), and progressive disease (n=2). No patients discontinued due to an AE. Severe (≥ Grade 3) AEs occurring in ≥ 5% of patients included febrile neutropenia (27%), anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis (19% each), fatigue, hypertension, neutropenia (15% each), nausea, pneumonia, hypokalemia (12% each) and abdominal pain (8%). Three patients had differentiation syndrome (IDH-DS), which resolved with FT-2102 temporary interruption, and treatment with dexamethasone, hydroxyurea, and supportive care in all three. Five patients died within 28-days of the last dose of study drug, none of which were considered related to FT-2102+AZA. No DLTs were observed during dose escalation. PK analysis demonstrated no impact of AZA on steady-state exposure of FT-2102. 2-HG levels to normal levels by C2D1. Table 1 shows the Investigator-assessed ORR per IWG. Responses have been seen as early as 1 month on treatment, and stable disease for greater than 6 months; 50% of patients remain on treatment. Conclusions: FT-2102+AZA is well tolerated in AML and MDS, with 150 mg BID selected as the RP2D based on safety, PK and PD (2-HG) response. Clinical activity has been observed, with an ORR of 42%. Durable CRs (>12 months) have been observed. The current data support the continued evaluation of FT-2102 150 mg BID+AZA in the Phase 2 study. Three Phase 2 combination therapy cohorts are currently open for enrollment in patients < 60 years with R/R AML or MDS naïve to HMA and IDH1m inhibitors; R/R AML or MDS with inadequate response/PD on HMA, and R/R AML or MDS who have progressed on a prior IDH1m inhibitor. Updated clinical data will be available at the time of presentation. Disclosures Cortes: Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Arog: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Schiller:Celator/Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Lee:AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Clinipace: Consultancy; Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc: Consultancy; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy. Wang:Amgen: Consultancy; Jazz: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy; Jazz: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ferrell:Incyte: Research Funding. Jonas:LP Therapeutics: Research Funding; Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Kalobios: Research Funding; Glycomimetics: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Forma: Research Funding; Accelerated Medical Diagnostics: Research Funding; Tolero: Consultancy; Esanex: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Wei:Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Abbvie: Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding. Montesinos:Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Kelly:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Li:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Sweeney:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Watson:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Mohamed:Forma Therapeutics Inc.: Employment

Lenalidomide and Eltrombopag for Treatment of Low- or Intermediate-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Result of a Phase II Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Thrombocytopenia is a serious complication of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with an increased bleeding risk and worse prognosis. Eltrombopag (ELT), a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, can increase platelet counts and reverse anti-megakaryopoietic effects of lenalidomide (LEN) in preclinical studies. We hypothesized ELT would reduce the incidence of thrombocytopenia in MDS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a Phase II multicenter trial of ELT and LEN in adult patients with low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS with symptomatic or transfusion-dependent anemia or thrombocytopenia (NCT01772420). Thrombocytopenic patients were started on ELT and subsequently treated with LEN after platelets were increased. Patients without thrombocytopenia were started on LEN monotherapy and treated with ELT if they became thrombocytopenic. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were enrolled; mean age was 71 years (range 34-93). Overall response rate (ORR) in the intention-to-treat population was 35% (18/52). ELT monotherapy led to ORR of 33.3% (7/21), 29% achieving hematologic improvement (HI)-Platelets, and 24% bilineage responses. LEN monotherapy had 38% ORR (6/16) with all responders achieving HI-Erythroid. Fifteen patients received both ELT and LEN with ORR of 33.3%, 20% achieved HI-Erythroid, and 20% HI-Platelets with 13% bilineage responses. Median duration of response was 40 weeks for ELT (range 8-ongoing), 41 weeks (25-ongoing) for LEN, and 88 weeks (8.3-ongoing) for ELT/LEN. Non-hematologic grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events were infrequent. Among patients on ELT, 2 had major bleeding events, 1 had a reversible increase in peripheral blasts, and 1 developed marrow fibrosis after 6 years on ELT. CONCLUSIONS: ELT and LEN are well tolerated and effective in achieving hematologic improvement in patients with low-/intermediate-risk MDS

Olutasidenib Alone or With Azacitidine in IDH1-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Phase 1 Results of a Phase 1/2 Trial

BACKGROUND: Olutasidenib (FT-2102) is a potent, selective, oral, small-molecule inhibitor of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1). The aims for phase 1 of this phase 1/2 study were to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity of olutasidenib, as monotherapy or in combination with azacitidine, in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, harbouring mutant IDH1. METHODS: In this phase 1/2, multicentre, open-label clinical trial, we enrolled patients aged 18 years or older with acute myeloid leukaemia or intermediate, high, or very high risk myelodysplastic syndrome harbouring mutant IDH1 at 18 study sites in the USA, Australia, France, and Spain. Other key eligibility criteria included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2 with adequate liver and renal function. The primary outcomes were dose-limiting toxicities and the maximum tolerated dose, maximum evaluated dose, and the recommended phase 2 dose of olutasidenib. Olutasidenib was administered orally in doses of 150 mg once daily, 150 mg twice per day, and 300 mg once daily. Azacitidine (75 mg/m) was administered subcutaneously or intravenously daily for 7 days on, 21 days off. The study was ongoing at the data cutoff (Oct 2, 2019) and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02719574. FINDINGS: Patients were enrolled between Aug 8, 2016, and Nov 14, 2018. 78 patients received olutasidenib as monotherapy (n=32) or in combination with azacitidine (n=46). The median follow-up was 8·3 months (IQR 3·1-13·3) for monotherapy and 10·1 months (4·2-15·3) for combination therapy. 16 (50%) of 32 patients in the monotherapy group and 24 (52%) of 46 patients in the combination therapy group were women. Most patients were White (26 [81%] for monotherapy and 31 [67%] for combination therapy). No dose-limiting toxicities were reported in the dose-escalation cohorts and 150 mg twice per day was declared the recommended phase 2 dose on the basis of safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity. The most common (≥20%) grade 3-4 treatment-emergent adverse events with monotherapy were thrombocytopenia (nine [28%] of 32 patients), febrile neutropenia (seven [22%] of 32), and anaemia (seven [22%] of 32); and with combination therapy were thrombocytopenia (19 [41%] of 46), febrile neutropenia (13 [28%] of 46), neutropenia (13 [28%] of 46), and anaemia (nine [20%] of 46). 11 (34%) of 32 patients in the monotherapy group and nine (20%) of 46 patients in the combination therapy group died (most commonly from disease progression [three (9%) of 32 and four (9%) of 46]). No deaths were considered study-drug related. For patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia, 41% (95% CI 21-64; nine of 22) receiving monotherapy and 46% (27-67; 12 of 26) receiving combination therapy had an overall response. For treatment-naive patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, 25% (1-81; one of four) receiving monotherapy and 77% (46-95; ten of 13) receiving combination therapy had an overall response. INTERPRETATION: Olutasidenib, with or without azacitidine, was well tolerated and showed meaningful clinical activity in patients with IDH1-mutated acute myeloid leukaemia. The results of this phase 1 study provide rationale for the continued evaluation of olutasidenib in multiple patient populations with myeloid malignancies. FUNDING: Forma Therapeutics

Ivosidenib induces deep durable remissions in patients with newly diagnosed IDH1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia

Ivosidenib (AG-120) is an oral, targeted agent that suppresses production of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate via inhibition of the mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1; mIDH1) enzyme. From a phase 1 study of 258 patients with IDH1-mutant hematologic malignancies, we report results for 34 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ineligible for standard therapy who received 500 mg ivosidenib daily. Median age was 76.5 years, 26 patients (76%) had secondary AML, and 16 (47%) had received ≥1 hypomethylating agent for an antecedent hematologic disorder. The most common all-grade adverse events were diarrhea (n = 18; 53%), fatigue (n = 16; 47%), nausea (n = 13; 38%), and decreased appetite (n = 12; 35%). Differentiation syndrome was reported in 6 patients (18%) (grade ≥3 in 3 [9%]) and did not require treatment discontinuation. Complete remission (CR) plus CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) rate was 42.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25.5% to 60.8%); CR 30.3% (95% CI, 15.6% to 48.7%). Median durations of CR+CRh and CR were not reached, with 95% CI lower bounds of 4.6 and 4.2 months, respectively; 61.5% and 77.8% of patients remained in remission at 1 year. With median follow-up of 23.5 months (range, 0.6-40.9 months), median overall survival was 12.6 months (95% CI, 4.5-25.7). Of 21 transfusion-dependent patients (63.6%) at baseline, 9 (42.9%) became transfusion independent. IDH1 mutation clearance was seen in 9/14 patients achieving CR+CRh (5/10 CR; 4/4 CRh). Ivosidenib monotherapy was well-tolerated and induced durable remissions and transfusion independence in patients with newly diagnosed AML. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02074839